Learning through doing

Of course there are lectures and seminars, and quiet libraries where students can engage in research. But the real heart of any CUK conservatoire are the spaces where people come together to make or do something.

These activities will be led by one or more professors or teachers (either on the staff or a distinguished visiting tutor) who will work with the students.

The different sorts of performing situation are as endlessly varied as the art work itself. On a typical day in a CUK conservatoire you might find:

• An orchestral rehearsal in the main concert hall, working on a Mahler symphony under the guidance of the conductor
• A meeting of composers with a distinguished player of contemporary piano music, to discuss techniques, possibilities, constraints, notation, and so on
• A group of string players who have formed a sextet, and are now being coached by a professor in their faculty
• Acting students undergoing intensive rehearsal for a public performance with a director from a leading theatre company
• Dancers in a dance technique class taught by an eminent teacher, working on mastering a complex combination set to challenge students’ technical skills and develop their artistry in performance
• Musical Theatre students engaged in a workshop with a leading musical director, choreographer or singing coach
• A student choreographer working with a cast of dancers to create new and original dance work, mentored by a practising dance artist/choreographer
• Stage Management students working alongside Music Technology students to produce an original soundscape for a public performance
• A scene being filmed in a college location with a professional crew and experienced television director, using industry-standard equipment